Consider OC your i5 4690k or GTX 970, or both, depending on what you need most.
Consider OC your i5 4690k or GTX 970, or both, depending on what you need most.
I'm trying to boost gaming performance on my rig built about a year ago.
Playing Elder Scrolls online often drops my FPS to 25-40, which is really annoying.
My current setup includes:
i5 4690k stock cooler
NZXT s340 with internal case fans
EVGA GXT 970
ASRock H97M motherboard
8 GB DDR3 1600 RAM
and a PSU of either EVGA 650 or 750W 80+bronze.
I feel these components are not enough for the workload.
Checking my GeForce experience settings, it suggests I can optimize by setting the resolution to 2715x1527 DSR so it matches my screen size.
I'm aiming for a stable 50-60 FPS while playing casually, except in intense situations like sieges.
I'm new to overclocking, so I'm unsure whether to let BIOS handle it automatically or do it myself.
I'm also thinking about running all fans at full speed constantly because the noise isn't a big issue with my headset on.
For CPU overclocking, it's not possible. You matched a H97 motherboard with an unlocked CPU. You should use a Z97 (or similar) board to overclock an unlocked CPU. Also, improved cooling is necessary for this process.
Regarding the GPU, you can overclock it easily. I recommend searching for overclocking guides on YouTube!
I don't suggest using GeForce Experience if you're strict about frame rates. It's better to understand all the graphics settings yourself and adjust them according to your preferences. However, if you really want to use GeForce Experience, open the app and tweak the slider for your game towards the "performance" setting.
For CPU overclocking, it's not possible. You matched a H97 motherboard with an unlocked CPU. You should use a Z97 (or similar) motherboard to overclock an unlocked CPU. Also, improved cooling is necessary for this process.
Regarding the GPU, you can overclock it easily. I recommend searching for overclocking guides on YouTube!
I don't suggest using GeForce Experience if you're strict about frame rates. It's better to understand all the graphical settings yourself and adjust them according to your preferences. However, if you really want to use GeForce Experience, open the application and tweak the slider for your game towards the "performance" setting.
If you're using a 1080 monitor with 1080 rez, DSR slightly enhances image quality though it rarely justifies the FPS drop.
Install MSI Afterburner and track CPU and GPU usage during gameplay. Both should be high, but the engine might not fully utilize multiple threads—possibly showing only two cores working while others sit idle. A noticeable imbalance means one component is limiting performance.
For instance, if CPU hits 95% but GPU stays at 50%, it implies the CPU is bottlenecking; consider overclocking or upgrading. Conversely, if GPU is at 95% and CPU at 50%, reduce graphics settings or improve GPU performance.
Keep in mind that games like Skyrim can significantly stress the CPU during intense moments!